Bandon bowler James O’Donovan secured a victory in the O’Connell/Dullea Cup tourament at Ballygurteen, defeating Aidan Murphy by a bowl of odds.

Tournament scores also saw dominant performances from Darragh Dempsey at the Marsh Road and Cillian Kelleher at Derrinasaffa, both of whom won their respective scores by significant margins.

In Bauravilla, brothers Brendan and Gavin Crowley each won their semi-final scores to set up a family showdown in the upcoming Coachman’s Inn Cup final

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James O’Donovan progressed to the second round of the O’Connell/Dullea Cup at Ballygurteen when he beat Aidan Murphy by one bowl of odds. They played for a stake of €6,550 a-side.

Both opened the first bend in two shots each, with Murphy shading both. We saw three more excellent shots from both players past the women’s lane where O’Donovan was yet to lead. The first blip in the score came when Bandon bowler O’Donovan played his sixth shot to the right — Murphy took advantage of this and beat the tip by 60 metres. At the coffee shop Murphy increased his odds further.

Two excellent shots from O’Donovan up sight at O’Donovan’s bend knocked big odds and won him his first lead, as Murphy got no justice for his tenth and 11th shots, both spun right on him.

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At Burke’s entrance O’Donovan odds were only two metres. Murphy’s bowl from here pulled in right at Burkes and O’Donovan made back of the junior line, giving him big odds and a chance of sight at the bridge in two more which he duly delivered on. Murphy, with his 16th, missed sight at the bridge and here O’Donovan had a bowl and 30 metres with the line in his sight. He won out in the end by a big bowl of odds.

In further scores at Ballygurteen for the Féile O’Sullivan Fund, Michael Quilligan beat Jim Coffey by the last shot for €2,000 a-side. Paddy Stokes beat Wayne Parkes by two bowls of odds for €2,000 a-side. Jim Coffey beat Michael Quilligan by the last shot for €3,000 a-side and Michael Quilligan won the last score from Jim Coffey by one bowl for 1000 a-side.

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At Marsh Road, Darragh Dempsey had an easy victory over Donie Harnedy — he was a trap-to-line winner, had big odds after four shots and raised the bowl at the council yard. He held this to the silvery gate and raised a further bowl at the steps. He continued to show why he could be well in the reckoning for a Junior A championship in 2026 when he raised a further bowl at Ballyhilty.

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Derrinasaffa held their two tournament semi-final scores. In the first, Cillian Kelleher had an easy win over Denis O’Sullivan (Caheragh), winning by over two bowls of odds; there was no stake in this one.

In the second semi-final, John A Murphy played John Cahalane for €3,250 a-side. Murphy held the upper hand in four shots to the bridge. Both missed out Nattie’s bend in two more but Murphy had big odds here. A bad blunder from Cahalane, when he misplayed his bowl left, missed Murphy’s tip. At the palms Cahalane had the odds back to 60 metres. Cahalane made a big effort for sight at the Darkwood but just fell short and Murphy went full sight up and around — Cahalane missed this tip to concede a bowl of odds again. Murphy increased his odds to almost two bowls past Walsh’s lane, he held these odds to Hon Grady’s and on past O’Neill’s Lane to win by two bowls of odds.

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Shannonvale held a Jasper Coleman Cup score, as David Hegarty lined out against Noel O’Regan for a stake of €2,700 a-side. Hegarty took a bowl of odds out to Desmond’s bend, held these odds to Kingston’s and raised further odds at Campbells. In a return score John Connolly beat Darren Harrington for 3500 a-side.

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The Crowley brothers from Bauravilla progressed to meet each other in the final of the Coachman’s Inn Cup played at Bauravilla. First up, Brendan Crowley played Alan Keane for a stake of €900 a-side. Both went to Robins Cross in three each, but Crowley put a bit of daylight between them at the netting in two more. At the Rock Crowley had odds of 50 metres. Keane laid down some great bowls to knock the odds to 15 metres at the D line. Crowley upped his game again from here and at the bridge had almost two bowls of odds to book his place in the final.

In the second semi-final, Gavin Crowley was on fire in his win over James Murphy for a stake of €850 a-side. Crowley made the bridge in three great opening shots where he had almost two bowls of odds. He raised a further bowl in three more to the rock where he will now play his brother Brendan.